Elevator selection system



Feb. 28, 1961 Filed March 23, 1959 S. A. HORNUNG ELEVATOR SELECTION SYSTEM 6 Sheets-*Sheet 1 -STEH/ENNTHOHV HOPNUNG- INVENTOR Bykm ATroRNEv Feb. 28, 1961 s. A. HORNUNG ELEVATOR SELECTION SYSTEM Y 5 |||||||||||||||||||||||||||l||lE 2Xl.ll.|||.| a.; h m W llwlLF/w E m .MX abn blau Mba Mba W T Ul 9h m, ma am |r||+||om|| l l l l I I III. I I l I I IIIIluu DNn h |.||l-.|lf|Lv| |Ill .l I SW H13/ gauw@ @Uwvmd d e 9 h w w 6 Medaf bqnmflhn 4 d ,D C l Qilwllllgwlw, -lim W W n bmg v ma Mmm E\/ o W ZL Z Z Il I I I I I I I ltlfl W Uil l I l I l y? N VL a R I I l I I l l l ||l A w k H M mm my@ X E E E n. H V .bwa fwn M Wm /m /ba/ M leb MWD /v/ mm E B l l l Eb n.5 E4 Ee E. 9 5 e fT. 0,. h b 7 me 7 79 ,.U 7 a fha. D n i w w Rw in w Hifi mi avu|||+| |||41||l+IIITII|QVDHQTMMQ mwwuuw: j 3. 3 o Y nnnwmmnn@ xa@ im d Lu c d n mi ma E. ema ,Ibn 91 M e fr. d.. In d /L ML M d Z/ ZJ Z ZJ l D E D e I f l l l l wsllfllllllo. 1 1 l 1 1 I l Il ya. G NWT MWD lf/Jmrxn M-Lm I I l I l l I I ||WH r/l 9 I I I I l I l I I I I I I I i I l I I I lll' .Il a 1N. Ilma 5 l l l l I I l l I I I l l l I I l l a N l l l l I l I I Il nl. 2J wml l l I l I l I l I l I I I l I I u l llWT l ||==||||||1H||xw= @Np ||1|||I|l|l||||||w MI-|1|||-|||||| a MR IlluIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII|||||| dK||||| Il laf M n... I I l l I I I I I I I l l I I l l l l I I ||||||dn HMMIIIIII|.||||||||||||ll|l||||||l||||l|ll||d Feb. 28, 1961 s. A. HORNUNG 2,973,059

ELEVATOR SELECTION SYSTEM Filed March 23, 1959 6 Sheets-Sheet 5l BY ATTORNEY Feb. 28,. 1961 s. A. HORNUNG ELEvAToR SELECTION SYSTEM 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 Filed March 25, 1959 5w/hmm ATTORNEY United States Patent() ELEVATOR SELECTION SYSTEM Stephen Anthony Hornung, New York, N.Y., assignor to Otis lElevator Company, New York, N.Y., a corporation of New Jersey Filed Mal'. 23, 1959, Sen No. 801,398

28 Claims. (Cl. IS7- 29) The invention relates to selection systems for elevators.

This applicationis a continuation in part of application Serial No. 748,904, tiled July 16, 1958, now abandoned, by Stephen Anthony Hornung.

Selecting mechanism is utilized in several forms of elevator systems. For example, in the so-called Collective Control systems as applied to a plural elevator installation in which the control of the cars is subject solely to the passengers and intending passengers themselves, selecting mechanism may be utilized to select between two or more cars waiting at a parking floor, as to which car will be the next to leave. Selecting mechanism is used more extensively in connection with elevator dispatching lsystems in which it selects the car next to be dispatched from a dispatching floor. Although applicable to other types of elevator systems, the invention will be described as applied to an elevator dispatching system.

One of the arrangements used in elevator dispatching systems is non-sequence selecting mechanism in which, with no accumulation of cars at the dispatching floor, the cars are selected for dispatching in the order of their arrival at the dispatching Hoor, regardless of their order of previous departure. Such selecting mechanism is usually arranged so that when there is an accumulation of cars at theA dispatching floor at the time the next selection is to be made, it acts to scan the accumulated cars in sequence and thus select the first one of them reached in the sequence. in the operation of such systems, intending passengers are attracted to the selected car, as by the lighted hall lantern for that car. However, they may be late and thus not able to enter the selected car before it is dispatched. Also, they may be unable to board the selected car because it is full. As a result they have to turn to the car next selected for dispatching.

ln elevator installations involving a plurality of elevator cars, the cars are controlled in one or more groups. In the larger buildings having more than one group, one group of cars may serve one group of oors while another group may serve another group of doors, and so on, in some buildings, all cars may serve all oors and be subject to group control as a single group. it is usual in such `arrangements that the cars of a group be disposed in the building so that their entrances at the dispatching floor are either positioned side-by-side on each side of a corridor or so that their entrances are side-byside in `a single line on one side of the corridor. In installations, where the entrances for the cars are positioned either on one side of the corridor in a row or in cross corridor arrangement as above set forth, the operation of the selecting mechanism as above described may result, under conditions where more than one car is available for selection, in the selection of a next car to be dispatched which will necessitate the intending passengers passing another available car in moving from in front of the car being dispatched to the car next selected. There is advantage both from the standpoint of eiciency of operation and service to intending passengers in obr, ICC

viating intending passengers having to pass a car available for selection. It eliminates confusion and reduces the chances of missing the next car. lt also assists in getting the cars loaded more quickly, as under up peak conditions.

lt is the object of the invention to provide selecting mechanism which is operable, under conditions where more than one car is available for selection at the time that another car is being dispatched, to select that one of the available cars which will avoid intending passengers, in moving from the car being dispatched to the next selected car, having to pass another available car.

One feature of the invention is to select, when a car is being dispatched and more than one of the other cars is available for selection, thatV one of the available cars which is nearest to the position before boarding occupied by the intending passengers who boarded the car being dispatched.

Another feature of the invention is to select, when a car is being dispatched and more than one of the other cars is available for selection, that one of the available cars the entrance for which is nearest the elevator car being dispatched, regardless of which cars are available.

Another feature of the invention especially applicable to installations in which the entrances for the cars are arranged in a row on one side of the corridor is to select, when two cars are available and are the same distance from the car being dispatched, that available car in the direction from the car being dispatched of the car being dispatched from the car next previously dispatched, or as one alternative that available car in the direction toward the entrance to the corridor for the elevators, or as another alternative that available car in the opposite direction from the entrance.

Still anotherfeature of the invention especially applicable to installations in which the entrances for the cars are arranged across the corridor is to select, when a` car is being dispatched and more than one of the other cars is available for selection, one of which is directly across and the other next to the car being dispatched, the available car directly across the one being dispatched or as an alternative, the available car next to the one being dispatched.

In carrying out the invention according to one arrangement for installations where the entrances for the cars are positioned in a row, there is utilized a stepping selecting switch having a stationary selection contact for each car and a movable contact or brush which moves into successive engagement with these stationary contacts in selecting the next car for dispatching. When two or more cars are available for dispatching and are different distances from the car being dispatched, the brush is moved in a direction toward the nearest car. When available cars are equidistant from the car being dispatched, the brush may be moved in the same direction as it was last moved so as to select the next available car in that direction, or it may be arranged so that it will always be moved in the direction to select the next available car toward the entrance to the corridor, or it may be arranged so that it will always be moved in the direction away from the corridor entrance to select the next available car in that direction.

In carrying out the invention according to a modified arrangement particularly suitable for an installation of a small number of cars, such as four, where the entrances for the cars are positioned in a row, the stepping switch is provided with stationary contacts arranged for engagement by the movable contact in the sequence of the entrances for the elevator cars in the row and then the reverse sequence with the movable contact always moving in the same direction.

In carrying out the invention according to an arrangement for installations Where the entrances for the cars are positioned across a corridor, a series of unidirectional current conducting means circuits are utilized to control the operating voltages for selection switches in such way -as to cause operation of a selection switch to select an available car directly across the corridor from the one being dispatched in preference to an available car next adjacent the one being dispatched, or to select an avail- -able car next adjacent the one being dispatched in preference to an available car directly across the corridor from the one being dispatched, depending upon which arrangement is preferred.

Features and advantages of the invention will be gained from the above description and from the appended claims.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a simplified schematic wiring diagram of a portion of a dispatching system for an eight car elevator installation with the car entrances arranged in a row, having car selection circuits embodying the invention;

Figure 2 is a simplified schematic wiring diagram of a portion of a dispatching system having modified car selection circuits embodying the invention and suitable for a four car elevator installation with the car entrances arranged in a row;

Figure 3 is a simplified schematic wiring diagram of a portion of a dispatching system for an eight car elevator installation with the car entrances in cross corridor arrangement, having car selection circuits embodying the invention; and

Figures la, 2a and 3a are key sheets for Figures 1, 2 and 3 respectively, showing the electromagnetic switches in spindle form.

The invention will be illustrated, by way of example, as applied to the dispatching and control system of the Glaser and Hornung Patent No. 2,589,242. To facilitate and simplify the disclosure, only a portion of the dispatching and control circuit is shown and those shown are for the lower dispatching floor, hereinafter termed the lower terminal. It is to be understood that, when desirable, corresponding circuits are provided for the upper terminal.

Reference will first be made to Figure l. The electromagnetic switches employed in the system illustrated are designated as follows:

ASM- Auxiliary stopping switch.

CA- Potential switch.

KR- Running switch.

NDR- Notching direction determinantal relay. NDS- Notching direction determinantal switch. NS- Nonstop relay.

NT- Door dwell time switch.

PR- Auxiliary direction relay.

VB Bottom terminal availability relay. VTX- Auxiliary instantaneous transfer switch.

VURL- Counterclockwise notching coil. VURR-Clockwise notching coil.

WB- Bottom terminal selection switch. WBX- Up dispatch holding switch. WUS- Up group dispatch switch. XCS- Auxiliary car cutout switch. XS- Highest landing call relay.

Throughout the description which follows, these letters will be applied to their respective switch coils and, with reference numerals appended thereto, they will be applied to the respective switch contacts. Differentiation will be made between the different elevators by appending to the characters employed to designate the various elements of the system lower case letters a, b, c, d, e, f, g and h indicative of the different elevators.

The circuits are shown in across-the-line form in which the coils and contacts of the various switches are separated in such manner as to render the circuits as simple and direct as possible. The relationship of the coils and contacts may be seen from Figure 1w wherein 4 the switches are arranged in alphabetical order with the coils and contacts of the various switches positioned on spindles in alignment with their positions in the wiring diagrams.

Of the above electromagnetic switches, KR, VB, WB and WBX are switches of the aforementioned Glaser and Hornung patent for,which are shown the circuits for their coils. Electromagnetic switches ASM, CA, NS, NT, PR, VTX, WUS, XCS and XS are also switches of the aforementioned Glaser and Hornung patent, only contacts of these switches being illustrated, it being understood that the circuits for their coils are as illustrated in the Glaser and Hornung patent.

The electromagnetic switches are illustrated in deenergized condition. Switch NDS which is of the latching type is shown in reset condition. This switch has two coils, one an operating or set coil (upper) and the other a reset coil (lower). Relay NDR is a differential relay, having two operating coils. These coils act in opposition and cause operation of the relay in accordance with which coil is supplied with the greater value of current. The contacts of this relay control the set and reset coils of switch NDS.

It is to be noted from the above list of switches that VURR and VURL are specified as notching coils. These are the operating coils of bi-directional rotary stepping switch utilized in the selection of the cars for dispatching. The rotary stepping switch is provided with lfour banks or tiers, each bank comprising a series of stationary contacts, one for each car and a movable brush adapted t0 engage the stationary contacts in succession. One of the banks represented by stationary contacts VURCll and brush VURBl control the circuits for the coils of selection switches WB. Another represented by stationary contacts VURCZ and brush VURB2 control the selection of the cars. The remaining two banks represented by Stationary contacts VURC3 and brush VURBS and by stationary contacts VURC4 and brush VURB4 control the direction of rotation of the rotary switch. The brushes of the rotary stepping switch are rotated in step by step movement by the notching coils, clockwise movement being effected by coil VURR and counterclockwise movement by coil VURL. Successive deenergizations of coils VURR and VURL to cause the stepping operations are effected by contacts VURRl and VURLI respectively.

Connected in the circuits for the third and fourth banks of the rotary stepping switch contacts are resistors RY and RZ. For a particular differential relay, the ohmic value of each resistor RY may be in the order of 2,000 ohms and that of each of resistors RZ may be in the order of 1,000 ohms. The purpose of these resistors will be seen as the description proceeds. Knife switches KF are arranged in shunt to resistors RZ and it will be assumed that these switches are closed so that both of the RZ resistors are short circuited.

Each elevator car is provided with a selector machine as described in the aforementioned Glaser and Hornung patent. Each selector machine has a stationary contact SDM for the lower terminal which is engaged by a movable brush SDB on the synchronous panel as the car arrives at the lower terminal. Each car has an up hall lantern UHL1 at the lower terminal. The circuit for this hall lantern is shown for but one car, car n'. In this circuit is another stationary contact ULCla for the first floor on the selector machine for that car which is engaged by a movable brush ULBa on the advancer panel as the car approaches the lower terminal. It is to be understood that such circuit is provided for each of the other cars. Also, a circuit is illustrated for the coil of the running switch KRa for car a. This circuit includes a contact designated Gla and engaged when the car gate is closed. A similar circuit is provided for each of the other cars.

. ln operation, assume thatcar d is the selected car at the lower terminal, the brushes of the `rotary stepping switch being illustrated in position for this condition. Assume further that car f is the only other car at the lower terminal. As car f arrived at the lower terminal, its brush SDB engaged stationary selector contact SDMf, completing a circuit for the coil of its bottom terminal availability relay VBf through contacts WBXZJ and PRZ]c (it being assumed that car f becomes set for upward travel at the lower terminal), contact SDNf, brush ,SDBL contacts XCSlf and manual cutout switch DICf. As a result of the operation of switch VBf, contacts VBly, VBSf, V134)c and VBf are engaged and contacts VBZf, VBSf and VBi]c are separated. A similar circuit was completed for the coil of availability switch VDd for car d as it arrived at the lower terminal. Also as car d is the selected car, its up hall lantern at the lower terminal is lighted. This circuit is shown only for car a and, if it were the selected car, the circuit would be through lantern UHLla, contacts WBGa, contact ULCla, brush ULBa and contacts PR7a, ASMZa, NSla and CAla.

Upon expiration of the dispatching interval, contacts WUSl of the up group dispatch switch engage to cornplete a circuit for the coil of up dispatch holding switch WBXd for car d through contacts WBZd and PRZd, contact SDMd, brush SDBd, contacts XSld and switch DlCd. Switch WBXd upon operation engages contacts WBX4d to establish a holding circuit. Also it engages contacts WBXld to complete upon closure of the gate contacts G1 for car d a circuit for the coil of its running switch KR. This circuit shown for car a is through coil KRa, contacts XSla, WBXlc and NTZU., and gate contacts Gla. This causes the starting of the car in the up direction. Incident to this dispatching operation, switch WBXd separates contacts WBX2d, breaking the circuit for the coil of relay VBd which drops out to separate contacts VBld, VBSd, VB4d and VBd and to engage contacts VBZd, VBSd and VB7d. The separation of contacts VBld causes dropping out of switch WBd.

Under the assumed conditions, a circuit exists through rotary stepping switch brush VURBS and contacts VURCd, contacts VBSe, resistor RY6, contacts VB4f and knife switch KFl for the left-hand coil of notching direction determinental relay NDR. No circuit is completed for the right-hand coil of relay NDR as contacts VB7f are separated and as the VB6 contacts for cars a, b, c, d and e are all separated. Thus the left-hand coil predominates and causes operation of the differential relay NDR to `engage contacts NDRl. This in turn causes operation of notching direction determinentai switch NDS to latch contacts NDS2 in engagement and contacts NDSI in separated condition. Thus, with the engagement of contacts VBZd incident to the dispatching of car d as above set forth, a circuit is completed for the clockwise notching coil VURR. This circuit is through coil VURR, contacts VURll and NDS2, brush VURBZ, stationary contact VURCZd, and contacts VBZd and VBSf. This coil acts to notch brush VURB2 clockwise (downward) into successive engagements with stationary contacts VURC2e and VURCZf, further notching being stopped upon the engagement with contact VURCZ]c as contacts VBZ are separated. This selects car f as the next to be dispatched from the lower terminal. At the same time, brush VURBI is moved into engagement with stationary contact VURClf, completing a circuit for the coil of bottom terminal selection switch WBf for car f, registering the selection. Also brushes VURBS and VURB4 are moved into engagement with stationary contacts VURCS and VURCey'` respectively. During this movement, as brush VURB3 engages contacts VURCSe, the circuit for the left-hand coil of'diferential relay NDP. is through contacts VBif and knife switch KFI.

Assume now that instead of only car f being available for selection, cars fand g are available at the time car d is dispatched. Under these conditions, car f will again be selected as above rowing to the vfact that the circuit for notching coil VURR is open at contacts VB2f as brush VURBZ ,engages contact VUR'CZ. This selects the car in sequence nearer the car being dispatched.

As a further example, assume that cars a and f are available for selection at the time that car d is dispatched. Under this condition, two circuits exist for the coils of relay NDR. One of these is by way of contacts VBSe, resistor RY6, contacts VB4f and knife switch KFl through the left-hand coil as above set forth. The other is by way of .resistor RYS, contacts VB7c, resistor RY3, contacts VB'b and VB6a and knife switch KFZ through the right-hand coil. Inasmuch as there is only 2,000 ohms resistance in circuit with the left-hand coil as compared with a total of 4,000 ohms resistance in circuit with the right-hand coil, the left-hand coil again predominates, causing car f, the nearer car, to be selected in preference to car a.

Assume now that cars c and f are available for selection at the time that car d is dispatched. Again two circuits are established for the coils of relay NDR. One is for the left-hand coil of the relay through resistor RY6 as above set forth. The other is for the right-hand coil through contacts VB6c and knife switch KFZ. Inas much as no resistance is connected in circuit with the right-hand coil, differential relay NDR now operates to engage contacts NDRZ. This completes -a circuit for the reset coil of switch NDS through contacts NDRZ and NDS3. This unlatches switch NDS to effect the separation of contacts NDSZ and the engagement of contacts NDSl.. Thus, with the engagement of contacts VBZd incident to the dispatching of car d as above set forth, `a `circuit is completed for the counterclockwise notching coil VURL. This circuit is through coil VURL, contacts VURLE. and NDSl, brush VURBZ, contact VURCZd and contacts VBZd and VB3c. Thus brush VURBZ is notched in a counterclockwise direction (upward) into engagement with contact VURCZC. Further movement of brush VURB2 is stopped at this point as contacts VBZc are separated. Thus car c is selected as the next to be dispatched, again selecting the nearer car.

Assume now that cars b and f are available for selection at the time that car d is dispatched. A circuit is established for the left-hand coil of the relay through resistor RY6 as above set forth. The circuit for the right-hand coil is through resistor RYS, contacts VB7c and VB6b and knife switch KFZ. In this case, the resistance in the circuits for these coils is balanced, namely 2,000 ohms in Veach branch so that no operation of differential relay NDR takes place. Thus, no circuit is established for the coil-of switch NDS and the contacts of switch NDS remain in the same condition as they were in selecting car d. As a result the car next selected to be dispatched is the car in the direction in which the notching took place in selecting car d. In other words, in selecting car d, if the notching took place from a lower lettered car, say car a, then car f would be the one next selected. On the other hand, if the notching took place from the higher lettered car, say car g, car b would be the one next selected.

lt may be desirable, particularly for certain installations where the corridor for the elevator has an entrance at but one end, to cause, when there is a coice of selection such as in the example last given, the car next to be selected to be the one nearer the entrance to the corridor. It will be assumed that car a is the one nearest the entrance. To effect such operation under this assumption, knife switch KFI is opened. Thus in the above example where cars b and f are awaiting selection at the time that car d is dispatched, the circuit for the lefthand coil of relay NDR is through resistor RY6, contacts VBf and resistor RZ1. Thus a total of 3,000 ohms resistance is in circuit with this coil. The circuit for the right-hand coil remains the same so that only 2,000 ohms resistance is in circuit with this coil. As a conse quence, the right-hand coil predominates causing counterclockwise movement of brush VURB2 to select car b. This has the advantage that people just entering the corridor for the bank of elevators have a shorter distance to Walk to the next selected ca r.

lIn other installations where the corridor has a single entrance it may be considered desirable, under conditions where the two available cars awaiting selection are equidistant from the car waiting to be dispatched, to select the one in a direction away from the entrance to the corridor. This would tend to minimize possible congestion at the corridor entrance. This operation may be effected by leaving knife switch KFI closed and opening knife switch KFZ. Thus under the above assumption where cars b and f were awaiting selection at the time car d was dispatched, the resistance in circuit with the right-hand coil of relay NDR is through resistor RYS, contacts VB7c and VB6b and resistor RZ2, a total of 3,000 ohms resistance, whereas the circuit for the lefthand coil is through only 2,000 ohms resistance as before. Thus the right-hand coil predominates and brush VURB2 is notched clockwise into position engaging contact VURCZf to select car f as the next to be dispatched.

While the above described arrangement is especially suitable for installations having a large number of elevators in a group in which the entrances are arranged in a row on one side of the corridor, it is also suitable for installations having a smaller number .of elevators in a group with their entrances on one side of the corridor. However, a somewhat simplified arrangement may be considered satisfactory for the smaller number of elevators. Such a simplified arrangement is illustrated for four cars in Figure 2. In this figure, the circuits for the coils of switches VB, WBX and KR and for the up v hall lantern UHL at the lower terminal are the same as in Figure l. The difference resides in the stepping switch circuits. But two tiers of stationary contacts are utilized, those for determining the direction of notching being omitted. Only one notching coil VUR is provided and the notching always takes place inthe same direction. Each tier has a stationary contact for each car, arranged in the sequence of the cars in the row and an additional contact for each car intermediate the end cars in the row and arranged after the contact for the last car in the sequence in the opposite sequence of the cars. The additional contacts are differentiated from the others by prime designations, for example VURClc'.

VIn operation, assume that car c is the one being dispatched, brushes VURBI and VURB2 being shown in engagement with contacts VURClc and VURC2c respectively. Assume also that at that time car d is available for selection. Upon the reengagement of contacts VB2c incident to the dispatching of car c, a circuit is completed by way of contacts VBZc and VB3d for coil VUR. Inasmuch as the stepping switch always notches in the same direction, say clockwise, brush VURB2 is moved into engagement with contact YVURCZaY5 where it is stopped because of contacts VBZd being separated, selecting car d as the next to be dispatched. At the same time brush VURBI engages contact VURCld to cause operation of switch WBd to register the selection.

Had both cars d and say b been available for selection, car d would be the one selected as above as brush VURB2 would stop at contact VURCZd because of the separation of contacts VBa'.

Assume now that cars a and b are available for selection at the time that car c is being dispatched. Upon the engagement of contacts VB2c incident to the dispatching of car c, brush VURB2 is moved into successive engagement with contacts VURCZd, VURCZC' and VURCZb. It is brought to a stop upon the engagement with the last mentioned contact as contacts VB2d are separated. Thus under the assumed condition, car b is selected over car a, in other words the nearer car.

The nearer car is not always selected in the Figure 2 arrangement. Assume that car b is being dispatched and that cars a and d are available for selection. If brush VURB2 is in engagement with contact VURCZb, car a will be selected, the nearer car. However, if brush VURB2 is in engagement with contact VURCZb, car d will be selected. This is not the nearer car but passengers do not have to pass another available car in moving from car b to car d. It is not necessary under any condition with the arrangement of Figure 2 for intending passengers to pass an available car in moving from the car being dispatched to the car next selected for dispatching.

It is to be noted that, in both the arrangement of Figure 1 and the arrangement of Figure 2, the stepping switch brush VURB2, upon reaching the contact for the elevator at either end of the row, in its movement for the next selection, engages the stationary contacts for the elevators in reverse sequence.

Reference may now be had to Figure 3 which illustrates circuits suitable for a cross corridor arrangement of the elevators. In this figure, the circuits for the coils of switches VB, WBX and KR and for the up hall lantern UHL at the lower terminal are the same as in Figure 1. The difference resides in the selection circuits. Instead of stepping switch circuits, a system of unidirectional current conducting means arranged in certain circuit relationship are utilized. These unidirectional current couducting means may be in the form of silicon rectifiers having a .7 volt drop and are designated generally as V. The circuits control electronic tubes, one for each car, which may be 2050 tubes and are designated generally as WBT. Each tube has an anode AN, a cathode CA and a control electrode CE, as indicated for tube WBTa. These tubes control the operation of the selection switches WB. For the purposes of this arrangement, switches having a slow release, say requiring .14 second, as for example telephone types of relays, are utilized as the selection switches. RSEL designates a selection or lockout resistor while CSEL designates a selection or lockout capacitor. RWB are current limiting resistors Vfor the control electrodes of tubes WBT. Three current supply lines are utilized and are designated B-i-l20, B|30 and BO. vLine BO is a common return line for lines B|120 and B-t-30, these latter lines having a positive potential of volts and 3 volts respectively above that of line BO for the particular components utilized in the clrcuits.

The points a', b', c', d', e', f', g and h are reference points in the rectifier circuits. These circuits have been shown in such a manner that these points also indicate the relative positions of the cars at the lower terminal in the cross corridor arrangement, a indicating the position of car a, b of car b, etc. It is to be noted that, between each pair of adjacent points, there are two rectiier circuits, one passing current in one direction and the other passing current in the other direction. Certain of these rectifier circuits serve as cross corridor connecting circuits between the reference points (say a' and b) for oppositely disposed cars. The other rectifier circuits serve as connecting circuits between the reference points (say a', b') for side-by-side elevators. The rectifiers as illustrated in these circuits are for au arrangement in which an elevator opposite the one being dispatched is considered closer to the position before boarding occupied by passengers who boarded the car being dispatched than one next to the car being dispatched. A single rectifier (say Vfl-h) is provided in each cross corridor circuit while two rectifiers (say Vla-b and V2a-b) in series are provided in each side-by-side circuit. In addition to indicating the direction of current flow in the rectifier circuits by the manner of illustrating the rectifiers, this direction of current ow is also indicated by the designations given the rectifiers. For example, the designation of a rectifier as Va-h indicates that direction of current ow in its circuit is from point 9. a' to point h whereas the designation of a rectiiier as Vlb-a'indicates that the direction of current flow in its circuit is from point b to point a. With this arrangement a car directly opposite the car being dispatched will be selected in preference to one next to that car.

In order that this may be understood, assume that car b is selected and about to be dispatched and that unselected car g is also at the lower terminal available for selection. Under such conditions switches VBb, WBb and VBg are operated. The circuit for the coil of switch WBb is through contacts VBSb, tube WBTb and in parallel resistor RSEL and capacitor CSEL. For the components assumed, the voltage drop across RSEL and CSEL would be around 40 volts. Upon the engagement of contacts WUSl to dispatch car b, a circuit is completed as previously explained to cause the starting of car b in the up direction. Also incident to this operation, contacts WBX2b separate to cause the release of switch VBb. Switch VBb separates contacts VBSb and VB9b, breaking the circuit for the coil of switch WBb. At this time, contacts VBSg and VB9g are engaged, the potential of the control electrode of tube WBTg applied at point Xg from line B-i-3O through contacts WBSb, rectitier Vb-g, and contacts VBSg is 30 volts minus .7 volt (rectifier drop) and the potential of the cathode is 40 volts. As soon as contacts VBSb separate, capacitor CSEL discharges to reduce before contacts WBSb separate the potential of the cathode of tube WBTg to 2 volts above the control electrode potential, whereupon the tube fires. This causes operation ofv switch WBg, selecting car g as the next to be dispatched.

Assume now that cars c and g are available for selection at the lower terminal at the time that car b is dispatched. `Under these conditions, car g will again be selected as next to be dispatched. This is due to the fact that the potential drop between points b and g (.7 volt) is less than that between points b' and c (1.4 volts), there being two rectifiers in series, namely Vlb-c and V2b-c, in the circuit between the latter points. Thus, upon the separation off contacts VB'Sb, the point Xg being of a higher potential than point Xc, tube WBTg will reach firing potential ahead of tube WBTc. As soon as tube WBTg conducts, the potential of the cathode of tube WBTc rises to 40 volts, locking out this tube from firing. Thus switch WBg is operated, selecting car g.

Had cars a and g been available at the time car b was dispatched, car g would again be selected inasmuch as the potential drop between points b' and a', i.e., across rectifiers VZb-a and Vlb-a, is greater than between points b' and g', i.e., yacross rectifier Vb-g.

Had cars c and f been available at the time car b was dispatched, car c would be selected because the potential drop between points b and c', across rectifiers Vlb-c and V2b-c in series, 1.4 volts, in less than the potential drop between points b and f across rectifiers Vb-g, Vlg-f and VZg-f in series, and across Vlb-c, VZb-c and Vc-y in series, 2.1 volts. While there are parallel circuits between the points b and f the potential drop is only 2.1 volts, the summation of those across three rectifiers in series, as the potential drops across the rectifiers are unaffected by the value of the current ilow.

Similar operation is had in case the cars which are available are farther away from the car being dispatched. Assume for example that cars d and e are available when car b is being dispatched. In such case the voltage drop between points b and d' is 2.8 volts (across rectifiers Vlb-c, VZb-c, Vle-d and V20-d) while the voltage drop between points b' and e' is 3.5 Volts (across rectifiers Vb-g, Vlg-f, V2g-f, Vlf-e and VZf-e, and across rectiiiers Vlb-c, VZb-c Vle-d, VZc-d and Vd-e). Thus tube WBTd would fire first, selecting car d.

In the case of two cars being available for dispatching which are the same distance from the car being dispatched, say cars a and c available and car b being dispatched, then the voltage drop between points b' and a' and between b and c' would be the same, namely 1.4 volts, and either car would be selected. The same would be true if say cars h and f were available when car b is being dispatched, the voltage between points b and h' and between points b and f being the same, namely 2.1 volts. Should it be desired to insure the selection of a definite car under such conditions, say the one of two available cars which is in a direction from the other clockwise around the loop formed by points a', b', etc., this may be done for example by substituting a germanium rectifier having a voltage drop of .5 volt for say each of silicon rectifiers Vlb-c, Vle-d, Vlf-g and Vlg-h. Thus in the above assumed examples, car c (clockwise with respect to car a) would be selected over car a because the voltage drop between points b and c (across rectifiers V1b-c and V2b-c) would be 1.2 volts whereas the voltage drop between points b' and a' (across rectifiers VZb-a and Vlb-a) would be 1.4 volts. Also car h (clockwise with respect to car f) would be selected over car f because the voltage drop between points b and h (across rectifiers Vb-g, VZg-h and Vlg-h) would be 1.9 volts whereas the voltage drop between points b and f' (across rectiers Vbg, Vlg-f and VZg-f) would be 2.1 volts. The same result can be had by utilizing selenium rectifiers instead of silicon rectiers and varying to the number of cells.

It may be considered desirable for certain installations with the cross corridor arrangement of the elevators to select an available car directly across the corridor from the one being dispatched over one next adjacent the one being dispatched, even though the next adjacent elevator be closer to the intending passengers. The arrangement shown in Figure 3 is satisfactory for such an installation.

In cross corridor installations where it is desired to select the elevator next adjacent the one being dispatched over an elevator directly across the corridor from the one being dispatched, because the next adjacent elevator is nearer the intending passengers who are left than the elevator directly across the corridor, or because such operation is preferred regardless of the relative distances involved, this may be done by interchanging the cross corridor rectiiier circuits with the side-by-side rectifier circuits. More specifically, between each of the pairs of points a'-b, b'-c', c-d', e'-]", f'-g and g'-h, a rectifier circuit as embraced in the dotted box S is connected and between each of points ah', b--g, c-)" and d-e a rectifier circuit as embraced in dotted box D is connected. With such arrangement under conditi-ons where car b is being dispatched, car c or a would be selected over car g, h or f. By using a germanium rectifier as one of the rectifiers in each leg in the box D when connected cross corridor, for example available car g would be selected 1over available car d upon the dispatching of car b.

Another suitable arrangement for cross corridor installations is to substitute a silicon Zener voltage regulator diode form of rectifier for one of the regular silicon rectiers in each leg of block D, say for rectiiers V1b-c and Vlc-b, but of opposite polarity to that of the rectifier for which it is substituted, and connect the rectifiers of block D between points a'h, b-g, c'-f and d-e as well as between points a'-b, b-c, c-d, e'-f, f'-g and gh'. In this arrangement, rectifiers VZb-c and VZc-b in each block serve as blocking rectifiers. By utilizing such diodes of the proper breakover voltage, any desired arrangement, such as those above described, may be had. For example, by utilizing diodes of a breakover voltage of 4.3 volts in the legs of block D connected between points a-b, etc. for side-by-side elevators, and of a breakover voltage of 3.9 volts in the legs of block D connected between points lL-h etc. for across the corridor elevators, preference is given across corridor elevators over side-by-side elevators in the selection of cars. Utilizing diodes of a breakover voltage of 3.9 volts in the legs between points a'-b etc., and of 4.3 volts in the legs be,-

11 Y tween points a-h etc., preference is given side-by-side elevators over across corridor elevators in the selection of cars.

It is to be lborne in mind that when a car is selected for dispatching from the lower terminal, its up hall lantern at that floor is lighted. This, as is its intended purpose, attracts intending passengers. It often happens that intending passengers are not able to board the car, for example lbecause they arrived too late or because the car is Ifull. The latter condition is especially true under up peak conditions, as where the building is being populated in the morning. Those intending passengers who missed the car must now go to the nex-t selected car. With the arrangement of Figure l, there will not be another available car nearer the dispatched car than the one selected, with the result that the intending passengers will not have to pass another available car and only need walk a relatively short distance to the next car. Neither will they have to pass another available car in the arrangement of Figure 2 or that of Figure 3.

As many changes and many apparently widely different embodiments of this invention could be made without departing from the scope thereof, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown on the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

What is claimed is:

l. A group control system for three or more elevator cars having their entrances in a given directional'relationship at a given oor for selecting when a car is being started from such Hoor the next car to be started from such floor, said system comprising; means for initiating the starting of said cars from said given oor in the order of their selection; means for each car for registering the availability of that car for selection as said next car; means responsive to said availability registering means for comparing the positions of the available cars relative to the then selected car; means responsive to actuation of said initiating means for selecting as said next car a car registered as available by said registering means; and control means operatively responsive to the result of said comparison for causing, under conditions when at least two cars are registered as available, said selecting 'means to select as said next car the available car which isin a position relative to said then selected car which obviates intending passengers in moving to such next selected car from said prior selected car having to pass another available car, regardless of which cars are available.

2. A dispatching system for three or more elevator cars having their entrances arranged side-by-side in a corridor on a dispatching floor for the cars comprising; means for dispatching the cars from the dispatching floor iu the order of .their selection; means for each car for registering the availability of that car for selection for dispatching from the dispatching floor; means responsive to said availability registering means for producing two control values, the characteristics of which denote the positions of available cars relative to the then selected car; and means responsive to actuation of said dispatching means for selecting, incident to` the dispatching of said then selected ear, an available car as next to be dispatched, said selecting means also being responsive to the dilerence characteristic of said control values, under conditions when at least :two cars are registered as available, for selecting as next to be dispatched that one of said available cars which o'bviates intending passengers in moving to such next selected car from the car being dispatched having to pass another available car, regardless of which cars are available.

3. A dispatching system for three or more elevator cars having their entrances arranged in `a row at a dispatching floor for the cars comprising; means for dispatching the cars from the dispatching oor in the order of their selection; means for each car for registering the availability of that car for selection for dispatching from the dispatching floor; and means operable, when two or more cars are available for selection at the time a selected car is being dispatched and are at different distances from ysuch car being dispatched and on opposite sides thereof, for automatically selecting that one of said available cars which is nearest the car 4being dispatched.

4. A dispatching system for three or more elevator cars having their entrances arranged in a row in a corridor having an entrance at but one end on a dispatching floor for the -cars comprising; means for dispatching the cars in succession from the dispatching floor in the order of their selection; means for each car operable when that car reaches the dispatching oor for registering the availability of that car for selection for dispatching; means responsive lto said registering means, under conditions iwhen two cars are available for selection at the time a selected car is being dispatched, for comparing the positions of said two available cars relative to said selected car and to said entrance; and means responsive to said registering means, incident to the dispatching of the selected car, for selecting an available car as next to be dispatched, said selecting means also being responsive to the result of said comparison, under conditions when said two available cars are the same distance from the selected car being dispatched, for automatically selecting as next that one of said available cars which is indicated as being nearer the entrance to said corridor.

5. A dispatching system for three or more elevator cars having their entrances arranged in a row in a corridor having an entrance at but one end on a dispatching floor for the cars comprising; means for dispatching the cars in succession from the dispatching floor in the order of their selection; means for each car operable when that car reaches the dispatching oor for registering the availability of that car for selection for dispatching; means responsive to said registering means, under conditions when two cars are available for selection at the time a selected car is being dispatched, for indicating the positions of said two available cars relative to said selected car and to said entrance; and means responsive to said registering means, incident to the dispatching of the selected car, for selecting an available car as next to be dispatched, said selecting means also being responsive to said position indicating means, under conditions when said two available cars are indicated as being the same distance from the selected car being dispatched, for automatically selecting as next that one of said available cars which is indicated as ybeing farther from the entrance to said corridor.

6. A dispatching system for three or more elevator cars having their entrances arranged in a row at a dispatching floor for the cars comprising; means for dispatching the cars in succession yfrom the dispatching floor in the order of their selection; means for each car operable when that car reaches the dispatching oor for registering the availability of that car for selection for dispatching; means responsive to said registering means, under conditions when two cars are available for selection at the time a selected car is being dispatched, for comparing the positions of said two available cars relative to said selected car; and means responsive to said registering means, incident to the dispatching of the selected car, for selecting an available car as next to be dispatched, said selecting means also being responsive to the result of said comparison, under conditions when said two available cars are the same distance -from the car being dispatched, for automatically selecting as next that one of said available cars which is in the same direction from the car being dispatched as that car was from the car previously dispatched.

7. A dispatching system for three or more elevator cars having their entrances arranged in a row at ya dispatching floor for the cars comprising; means for dispatching in succession selected cars from the dispatching oor; means for each car for registering the availability of that car for selection; mechanism for selecting from said available cars the cars for dispatching, said mechanism having a plurality of circuit controlling devices, one for each car; means subject to a selected car being dispatched for successively operating said circuit controlling devices to complete a circuit through that circuit controlling device which is for a car which is available for selection at the dispatching lloor `to select the next car to be dispatched; means subject to said registering means under conditions when at least two cars are available for selection at the dispatching loor at the time a selected car is being dispatched for comparing the positions of said available cars relative to such selected car; and means for causing, under conditions when said available cars are at different distances from such car lbeing dispatched, the operation of the circuit controlling device for that one of said available cars which is nearest the car being dispatched to complete the selection circuit for that available car to select that car as the next to be dispatched, regardless of which cars are available.

8. A dispatching system for three or more elevator cars having their entrances arranged in a row at a dispatching oor for the cars comprising; means for dispatching in succession the selected cars from the dispatching loor; and mechanism for selecting the cars for dispatching, said mechanism including means for registering the availability of the cars for selection for dispatching from the dispatching floor, a plurality of selection circuits, one for each car, a plurality of circuit controlling devices, one for each selection circuit, adapted upon operation to complete the selection circuit for which it is provided when the car for which the selection circuit is provided is available, means operable incident to the dispatching of a selected car for successively operating said circuit controlling devices until a circuit for a car which is available for selection at the dispatching floor is completed, thereby selecting that car as the next car to be dispatched, and means for causing, when two or more cars are available for selection at the dispatching floor at the time a selected car is being dispatched and are at different distances from such car being dispatched and on opposite sides thereof, the completion of the selection circuit for that one of said available cars which is nearest the car being dispatched by the circuit controlling device for that circuit to select that oar as the next to be dispatched.

9. A dispatching system for three or more elevator cars having their entrances arranged in a row at a dispatching iloor for the cars comprising; means for dispatching the cars in succession from the dispatching floor in the order of their selection; and mechanism for selecting the cars for dispatching, said mechanism including means for registering the availability of the cars for selection for dispatching from 4the dispatching floor, a plurality of selection circuits, one for each car, adapted when completed to select the car for which it is provided, a plurality of stationary contacts, one for each selection circuit, arranged in sequence in accordance with the positions in the row of the entrances for the cars for which they are provided, a movable contact for engaging said stationary contacts adapted, upon engaging a stationary contact for a selection circuit for which it is provided when the car for which the selection circuit is provided is available, to complete that selection circuit, means operable in response to the dispatching of a selected car for moving said movable Contact into suc* cessive engagement with said stationary contacts until a circuit for a car which is available for selection is completed, thereby selecting that car as the ne'xt car to be dispatched, and means for causing, when two or more cars are available for selection at the dispatching floor at the time a selected car is being dispatched and are at diiferent distances from such car being dispatched and on opposite sides thereof, the selection circuit corn- 14 pleted to be for that one of said available cars which is nearest the car being dispatched to Select that car as the next to be dispatched.

l0. A dispatching system for three or more elevator cars having their entrances arranged in a row at a dis patching floor for the cars comprising; means for dispatching the cars in succession from the dispatching hoor in the order of their selection; means for each car for registering the availability of that car for selection; a bi-directional stepping switch having a plurality of stationary contacts, one for each car, arranged in the sequence in the row of the entrances for the cars for which they are provided, a movable contact for engaging said stationary contacts, and a pair of notching coils for moving said movable contact in opposite directions into successive engagement with said stationary contacts, each stationary contact being adapted, upon being engaged by the movable contact under conditions where the car for which it is provided is available to select that car as the next car to be dispatched; and means operable, when two or more cars are available for selection and are at different distances from a car being dispatched and on opposite sides thereof for causing that notching coil to be eiective which will move said movable contact toward the stationary contact for the nearest car to select that car as next to be dispatched.

ll. A dispatching system for three or more elevator cars having their entrances arranged in a row at a dispatching oor for the cars comprising; means for dispatching the cars in succession from the dispatching floor in the order of their selection; means for each car for registering the availability of that car for selection; a plurality of selection circuits, one for each car, adapted when completed to select for dispatching the car for which it is provided; a bi-directlonal stepping switch having a plurality ot stationary contacts, one for each car, arranged in the sequence in the row of the entrances for the cars for which they are provided, a movable contact for engaging said stationary contacts, and a pair of notching coils for moving said movable contact in opposite directions into successive engagement with said stationary contacts, each stationary contact being connected in the selection circuit for the car for which it is provided and being adapted, upon being engaged by the movable contact under conditions where the car for which it is provided is available to complete the selection circuit for that car thereby selecting that car as the next car to be dispatched; means responsive to the dispatching of a selected car for causing operation of one or the other of said notchingcoils to move said movable Contact; and means operable, when two or more cars are available for selection at the time a selected car is being dispatched and are at diiferent distances from such car being dispatched and on opposite sides thereof for determining which notching coil is eiective to cause notching of said movable Contact.

l2. A dispatching system for three or more elevator cars the entrances for which are arranged in a row at a dispatching floor for the cars comprising; means for dispatching the cars in succession from the dispatching iloor in the order of their selection; circuit controlling means for each car for registering the availability of that car for selection for dispatching from the dispatching floor; a plurality of selection circuits, one for each car` adapted when completed to select the car for which it is provided, each selection circuit being subject to said circuit controlling means for the car for which the circuit is provided; a lai-directional stepping switch having a plurality of tiers, each tier having a plurality of stationary contacts, one for each car, a movable contact for engr-ig ing said stationary contacts, the stationary contacts of one tier being arranged in the sequence in the row of the entrances for the cars for which they are pro-vided, being connected in the selection circ-nits for the cars for which the contacts are provided and each being adapted, upon being engaged by their movable contact to complete the selection circuit in which it is connected, provided the car for which the circuit is provided is registered available by said circuit controlling means for that car, and a pair of notching coils, one for moving said movable contact into successive engagement with said stationary contacts in one direction and the other for moving said movable contactiinto successive engagement with said stationary contacts in the opposite direction, until a circuit for a car which is available for selection is completed, thereby selecting that car as the next car to be dispatched; and a plurality of resistors connected between stationary contacts of each or" another two tiers and subject to said car availability circuit controlling means operable in conjunction with the movable contacts of those tiers for determining which notching coil is effective to cause, when two or more cars are available for selection at the dispatching oor at the time a selected car is being dispatched and are at different distances from such car being dispatched and on opposite sides thereof, the operation of appropriate notching coil to notch the movable contact of said one tier in a direction to complete the selection circuit for that one of said available cars which is nearest the car being dispatched to select that car as the next to be dispatched.

13. A dispatching system for three or more elevator cars the entrances for which are arranged in a row at a dispatching floor for the cars comprising; means for dispatching the cars in succession from the dispatching oor in the order of their selection; means for each car for registering the availability of that car for selection; means operable incident to the dispatching of a selected car for selecting an available car as the next to be dispatched; and means for causing the order of selection of the cars to be in the order of their positions in said row and then in the reverse of said order.

14. A dispatching system for three or more elevator cars having their entrances arranged in a row at a dispatching floor for the cars comprising; means for dispatching the cars in succession from the dispatching floor in the order of their selection; means for each car for registering the availability of that car for selection; a plurality of circuit controlling devices, one for each car, arranged in the sequence of said cars in the row and a plurality of additional circuit controlling devices, one for each car intermedi-ate the end cars in the row, arranged after the circuit controlling device for an end car in the reverse sequence; and means responsive to the dispatching of a selected car from the dispatching floor for causing operation of said circuit controlling means in said order of their arrangement, whereby the iirst circuit controlling means to be operated for a car which is available for selection acts to select that car as the next to be dispatched.

15. A dispatching system for three or more elevator cars having their entrances arranged in a row at a dispatching floor for the cars comprising; means for dispatching the cars in succession from the dispatching door in the order of their selection; means for each car for registering the availability of that car for selection; switching mechanism having a plurality of stationary contacts, one for each car, arranged in the sequence of the entrances for said cars in said row and a plurality of additional contacts, one for each car intermediate the end cars in the row, arranged after the contact for an end car in the reverse sequence, a movable contact for engaging said stationary contacts, each Contact being adapted, upon being engaged by the movable contact under conditions where the car for which it is provided is available, to select that car as the next car to be dispatched, and means for moving said movable contact in the same direction into successive engagement with said first named and additional stationary contacts in said order of their arrangement, whereby when two or more cars are avail-able for selection at the dispatching oor the car selected i6 will be one which, in the lintending passengers moving thereto from the car being dispatched, will obviate such passengers passing another available car; and means responsive to the dispatching of a selected car from the dispatching floor for causing operation of said means for moving said movable Contact.

16. A dispatching system for three or more elevator cars having their entrances arranged in a row at a dispatching oor for the cars comprising; means for dispatching the cars in succession from the dispatching floor in the order of their selection; means for each car for registering the availability of that car for selection; and a stepping switch having a plurality of stationary contacts, one for each car, arranged in the sequence of the entrances for said cars in said row and a plurality of additional contacts, one for each car intermediate the end cars in the row, arranged after the contact for an end car in the reverse sequence, a movable contact for engaging said stationary contacts, each Contact being adapted, upon being engaged by the movable contact under conditions where the car for which it is provided is available, to select that car as the next car to be dispatched, and a notching coil for moving said movable contact in the same direction into successive engagement with said first named and additional stationary contacts in said order of their arrangement, whereby when two or more cars are available for selection at the dispatching iioor the car selected will be one which, in the intending passengers moving thereto from the car being dispatched, will obviate such passengers passing another available car.

17. A dispatching system for three or more elevator cars having their entrances arranged in a row at a dispatching iioor for the cars comprising; means for dispatching the cars in succession from the dispatching floor in the order of their selection; means' for each car for registering the availability of that car for selection; a plurality of selection circuits, one for each car, each being adapted when completed to select the car for which it is provided; a stepping switch having a plurality of stationary contacts, one for each car, arranged in the sequence of-the entrances for said cars in said row and a plurality of additional contacts, one for each car intermediate the end cars in the row, arranged after the contact for an end car in the reverse sequence, a movable contact for engaging said stationary contacts, and a notching coil for moving said movable contact in the same direction into successive engagement with said rst named and additional stationary contacts in said order of their arrangement, each contact being connected in the selection circuit for the car for which it is provided and being adapted, upon being engaged by the movable contact under conditions where the car for which it is provided is available to complete the selection circuit for that car, thereby selecting that car as the next car to be dispatched; and means operable upon a selected car being dispatched to cause operation of said notching coil to step said movable contact into successive engagement with said stationary contacts in said order of their arrangement, whereby when two or more cars' are available for selection at the dispatching oor at the time a selected car is being dispatched the car selected will be one which, in the intending passengers moving thereto from the car being dispatched, will obviate such passengers passing another available car.

18. A dispatching system for three or more elevator cars having their entrances in opposing relationship across the corridor at a dispatching floor comprising; means-for dispatching the cars from the dispatching oor in the order of their selection; and means operable when at the time a car is being dispatched by said dispatching mechanism there are available for selection as the next to be dispatched from the dispatching door two or more other cars at different distances from the one being dispatched for selecting that one of such other cars which is nearest the car being dispatched, regardless of which cars are available.

19. A dispatching system for three or more elevator cars having their entrances in opposing relationship across the corridor at a dispatching oor comprising; means for registering the availability of the cars for selection for dispatching from the dispatching oor; means for dispatching the cars from the dispatching iioor in the order of their selection; and means operable when at the time a car is being dispatched by said dispatching mechanism there are available for selection as the next to be dispatched from the dispatching iloor two or more other cars at least one of which is on one side of the corridor and at least one other of which is on the other side of the corridor for selecting that one of such other cars which is nearest the car being dispatched, regardless of which cars are available.

20. A dispatching system for three or more elevator cars having their entrances in opposing relationship across the corridor at a dispatching licor comprising; means for dispatching the cars from the dispatching oor in the order of their selection; and means operable when at the time a car is being dispatched by said dispatching mechanism there are available for selection for dispatching from the dispatching floor another car next to the one being dispatched and another car directly across the corridor from the one being dispatched for selecting that one of such other cars the entrance for which is nearer the portion of the corridor usually occupied by intending passengers before boarding who boarded the car being dispatched.

21. A dispatching system for three or more elevator cars having their entrances in opposing relationship across the corridor at a dispatching floor comprising; means for registering the availability of the cars for selection for dispatching from the dispatching floor; means for dispatching the cars from the dispatching floor in the order of their selection; and means operable when at the time a car is being dispatched by said dispatching mechanism there are available for selection for dispatching from the dispatching floor two or more other cars at least one of which is directly acrossthe corridor from the one being dispatched for selecting such directly across the corridor car, regardless of which cars are available.

22. A dispatching system for three or more elevator cars having their entrances in opposing relationship across the corridor at a dispatching oor comprising; means for registering the availability of the cars for selection for dispatching from the dispatching iioor; means for dispatching the cars from the dispatching oor in the order of their selection; and means operable when at the time a car is being dispatched by said dispatching mechanism there are available for selection for dispatching from the dispatching floor two or more other cars at least one of which is directly across the corridor from the one being dispatched and at least one other of which is next to the one being dispatched for selecting such next to the one being dispatched car, regardless of which cars are available.

23. A dispatching system for three or more elevator cars having their entrances in opposing relationship across the corridor at a dispatching iioor comprising; means for dispatching in succession the selected cars from the dispatching floor; and means operable upon the dispatching of a car for selecting the next car for dispatching, said selecting means including means for each car for registering the availability of that car for selection, a selection circuit for each car controlled by said availability registerving means for that car and adapted to cause selection of the car for which it is provided, and circuits interconnecting said selection circuits having certain potential drops which, upon the dispatching of a car by said dispatching mechanism under conditions where there are available for selection another car directly across the corridor from the one being dispatched and another car next y18 to the one being dispatched, renders effective the seleotion circuit for a certain one of such other cars to select that car.

24. A dispatching system for three or more elevator cars having their entrances in side-by-side relationship on each side of the corridor at a dispatching floor and in opposing relationship across the corridor comprising: means for dispatching in succession the selected cars from the dispatching iloor; and means responsive to the dispatching of a car for selecting the next car for dispatching, said selecting means including means for each car for registering the availability of that car for selection, a selection circuit for each car controlled by said availability registering means for that car, and circuits interconnecting said selection circuits for adjacent cars and for cars directly across said corridor, said interconnecting circuits having certain potential drops which, upon the dispatching of a car by said dispatching mechanism under conditions where there are availableV for selection two or more other cars, at least one of which is directly across the corridor from the one being dispatched and at least one other of which is next to the one being dispatched, renders effective the selection circuit having the lowest potential drop between it and the selection circuit for the car being dispatched to cause selection of the car for which it is provided.

25. A dispatching system for three or more elevator cars having their entrances in side-by-side relationship on each side of the corridor at a dispatching floor and in opposing relationship across the corridor comprising; means for dispatching in succession the selected cars from the dispatching floor; and means for selecting the cars for dispatching, said selecting means including means for each car for registering the availability of that car for selection, a selection circuit for each car controlled by said availability registering means for that car, a circuit connecting said selection circuit for each car with that for a car the entrance for which is adjacent the entrance for such car, a circuit connecting said selection circuit for each car with that for a car the entrance for which is directly opposed to the entrance for such car, each connecting circuit having parallel paths poled to pass current in opposite directions, with those connecting selecting circuits for cars with side-by-side entrances of a different equivalent resistance from that of those connecting selecting circuits for cars with opposed entrances, and means responsive to the dispatching of a car by said dispatching mechanism under conditions where there are available for selection two or more other cars, at least one of which is directly across the corridor from the one being dispatched and at least one other of which is next to the one being dispatched, for causing, due to the diierence in equivalent resistance between selection circuits, selection of the car by its selection circuit having the lowest equivalent resistance between it and the selection circuit for the car being dispatched.

26. A dispatching system for three or more elevator cars having their entrances in side-by-side relationship on each side of the corridor at a dispatching floor and in opposing relationship across the corridor comprising; means for dispatching in succession the selected cars from the dispatching iloor; and means for selecting the cars for dispatching, said selecting means including means for each car for registering the availability of that car for selection, a selection switch for each car, a control circuit for each selection switch subject to the availability reg istering means for the car for which the selection switch is provided, circuits interconnecting the control circuits for cars having adjacent entrances and for interconnecting the control circuits for cars having directly opposed entrances, each interconnecting circuit having unidirectional curent conducting means connected in parallel therein in opposing relationship, the unidirectional current conducting means inthe interconnecting circuits between cars with side-by-side entrances otering a diterent resistance to current flow from those in the interconnecting circuits between cars with opposed entrances, and means responsive to the dispatching of a car by said dispatching mechanism under conditions where there are available for selection as next to be dispatched from the dispatching floor two or more other cars, at least one of which is directly across the corridor from the one being dispatched and at least one other of which is next to the one being dispatched, for causing, due to the difference in voltage cars having their entrances iu side-by-side relationship on each side of the corridor at a dispatching floor and in opposing relationship across the corridor comprising; means for dispatching in succession the selected cars from the dispatching oor; and means for selecting the cars for.

dispatching, said selecting means including means for each car for registering the availability of that car for selection, a selection switch for each car, a control circuit for each selection switch subject to the availability registering means for the car for which the selection switch is provided, circuits interconnecting the control circuits for cars having adjacent entrances and for interconnecting the control circuits for cars having directly opposed entrances, each interconnecting circuit having rectifying means connected in parallel therein in opposing relationship, the rectifying means in the interconnecting circuits between cars with side-by-side entrances having a'potential drop different from those in the interconnecting circuits between cars with opposed entrances, the control circuits, when a car is selected, for other cars which are available being completed through said interconnecting circuits, means operable when a car is selected to lock out other cars from selection, and means responsive to the dispatching'of a selected car by said, dispatching mechanism under conditions where there are available for selection as next to be dispatched from the dispatching Hoor another car directly across the corridor from the one beingdispatched and another car next to the one being dispatched for renderingsaid preventing means ineffective, whereby due to the diierence in potential drop of said interconnecting circuits operation is effected of said selection switch having the lower potential drop in the circuit interconnecting its control circuit with that of the car being dispatched to select the car for which such switch is provided.

28. A dispatching system for three or more elevator cars having their entrances in side-by-side relationship on each side of the corridor at a dispatching floor and in opposing relationship across the corridor comprising; mechanism for dispatching in succession the selected cars from the dispatching oor; and means for selecting the cars for dispatching, said selecting means including means for each car for registering the availability of that car for selection, a selection switch for each car, an electronic tube for each selection switch for controlling operation thereof, each having an anode, cathode and control electrode, the switch for which the tube is provided having an operating coil in the anode-cathode circuit of ne tube, a control circuit for each selection switch connected to control the potential of the control electrode of the tube for that switch and subject tothe availability registering means for the car for which the selection switch is provided, circuits interconnecting the control circuits for cars having adjacent entrances and for interconnecting the control circuits for cars with directly opposed entrances, each interconnecting circuit having rectifying means connected in parallel therein in opposing relationship, the rectifying means in the interconnecting circuits between cars with sidc-by-side entrances having a potential drop different from those in the interconnecting circuits between cars with opposed entrances, the control circuits, when a car is selected, for other cars which are available being co1npleted through said interconnecting circuits, a resistor and capacitor connected in parallel in a circuit common to the cathodcs of such tubes, the potential drop across said resistor when a car is selected being adapted to lock out the tubes for the other cars from conducting, and means responsive to the dispatching of a selected car by said dispatching mechanism under conditions where there are available for selection as next to be dispatched from the dispatching iioor another car directly across thc corridor from the one being dispatched and another car next to the one being dispatched for breaking the anode-cathode circuit for such dispatched car, said capacitor thereupon acting to reduce the potential drop across said resistor to render conductive that one of the tubes for auch other cars, the control electrode for which has the higher potential to cause operation of the selection switch for which such tube is provided to select the car for which such Switch is provided.

No references cited. 

